The science behind acne control
Acne may be inevitable, but luckily you don't have to live with it. Thanks to decades of research, virtually anyone can achieve clearer skin. If you're looking to get rid of acne, here's what dermatologists recommend:
Use the right acne treatment
For example, if you have blackheads, you want treatment that can unclog your pores.
An acne medication that contains adapalene can unclog your pores and prevent new blackheads from appearing. No prescription required.
To treat deep, painful acne, you need a treatment that clogs pores, bacteria, infections and excess sebum. To get a treatment that can do all of this, you need the help of a dermatologist.
Sometimes it's hard to tell what types of breakouts you have. If you are not sure, a dermatologist can tell you.
Whatever types of acne breakouts you have, research shows the following can help.
Stick to a gentle skin care routine. Are you trying to remove blemishes and excess oil? Have you ever popped a pimple to get rid of it?
While it may seem like you will get lighter skin, what you are doing irritates your skin.
Years of research have proven that every time you irritate your skin, you can get more breakouts. For lightening the skin, gentle skin care works best.
Use only oil-free skin products
Acne is associated with clogged pores. To eliminate acne, you want to unclog those pores, If you apply something that contains oil, you will likely be clogging your pores again.
Clogged pores can lead to more breakouts; to avoid clogged pores, use only oil-free products. Any oil-free product will have one of these conditions on its packaging:
- Oil free
- Non-comedogenic
- Won't clog pores
Be patient
Yes, you will find products that can make pimples less noticeable overnight. All treatments that reduce swelling and redness can do this.
Getting rid and preventing blemishes takes time. You need to use the same treatment for 6-8 weeks to see improvement.
Why dermatologists recommend treating acne
Although acne will eventually go away on its own, dermatologists recommend treating acne for the following reasons:
You avoid years of flare-ups. Acne can last a long time. Most teens with acne will continue to have breakouts until they are 20 to 25 years old. A teenage girl can expect her acne to last for up to 20 years or more. About 5% of women continue to have acne in their forties.
You prevent acne from getting worse. If left untreated, acne can get worse. What starts with a few pimples can progress to generalized blackheads, whiteheads, and deep, painful pimples.
However, you are at a higher risk if a close relative had deep, painful acne that left permanent acne scars.
If acne becomes severe, it can lower self-esteem. Many research studies have shown that people with severe acne tend to have higher rates of depression and anxiety than people without acne.